Two elegant Art Deco brooches, Van Cleef & Arpels.

March 4, 2013

These two Art Deco brooches are both very simple (and rather similar in design) but I think they’re both perfectly lovely.

Art Deco brooch #1: a feather, perfect in its feather-ness. I say that because this looks exactly like a feather that has been turned into diamonds set in platinum. Look a the perfect angle of the quill, the gentle, random overlapping of the feather fronts (is that a term? what are they called?) that lends this piece its asymmetrical perfection.This brooch is channel-set with baguette diamonds along the quill and millegrain-set with circular-cut diamonds along the openwork feather. It was made by Van Cleef and Arpels in 1928, signed Van Cleef & Arpels and numbered 30978, French assay marks for platinum.Art Deco brooch #2 is similar in concept: linear, simple, and beautiful.

An arrow that is the epitome of diamond arrow-ness. I think you can see why I put these two in the same post. Both effortless and yet both breathtaking in their design. When I look at either of these, I think yes, that’s what that brooch wanted to look like.

This beauty was made in 1924 by Van Cleef & Arpels, and is millegrain-set with circular-cut diamonds at the feathers and tip.

It’s really a jabot pin, not a brooch. The distinction is in the attachment device: a jabot pin is made to pierce through the clothing and come visibly back out, showing two decorative ends and hiding a plain center. It’s a perfect design for an arrow. It would look like it had been shot delicately through a fold of clothing.

These two lovely Art Deco brooches are currently for sale at Symbolic and Chase, listings available through 1stdibs. All images and info are thanks to 1stdibs and Symbolic and Chase.